Writing Contests, Grants & Awards

The Writing Contests, Grants & Awards database includes details about the creative writing contests—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, and more—that we’ve published in Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it. Ours is the most trusted resource for legitimate writing contests available anywhere.

A prize of $500, publication by Broadkill River Press, and two cases of Dogfish Head beer will be given annually for a poetry collection written by a poet living in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New...

A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a poem. Winners and finalists will be invited to read their poems at Beyond Baroque in April 2016. Submit up to four poems of no more than 40 lines each with a $20...

A prize of $1,000 and publication on the Gival Press website is given annually for a short story. Submit a story of 5,000 to 15,000 words with a $25 entry fee by August 8. Send an SASE, call, e-mail, or...

Fellowships of $1,000 each are given annually to emerging poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers who lack access to financial and creative support. Each fellow participates in an eight-...

A prize of $1,000 and publication by Red Mountain Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Denise Low will judge. Submit a manuscript of 48 to 72 pages with a $30 entry fee ($27 for electronic...

A prize of $1,000 and publication by Snake Nation Press is given annually for a novella or short story collection. Submit a novella of up to 50,000 words or a short story collection of up to 200 pages...

A prize of $1,000 and publication by Snake Nation Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Submit a manuscript of 75 to 100 pages with a $25 entry fee by August 31. E-mail or visit the website...

A prize of $1,000 and an offer of publication from Ashland Creek Press will be given annually for a book of fiction or creative nonfiction that focuses on the environment, animal protection, ecology, or...

A prize of $1,000 and publication by Grayson Books will be given annually for a poetry collection. Mekeel McBride will judge. Submit a manuscript of 50 to 80 pages with a $25 entry fee by August 15....

A prize of $1,000 and publication by University of Notre Dame Press is given biennially for a poetry collection. Writers who have published at least one poetry collection are eligible. Joyelle McSweeney...

A prize of $1,500 and travel and lodging expenses to give a reading at Farmingdale State College is given annually for a group of poems. Submit three to five published or unpublished poems totaling no...

A prize of $2,000 is given annually for a poetry collection by a resident of upstate New York. The winner must also give a reading and teach a master class at Utica College in April 2016. Submit two...

A prize of $3,000 and publication by Red Hen Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Carl Phillips will judge. Submit a manuscript of 48 to 96 pages with a $25 entry fee by August 31. Call or...

Grants of $5,000 are awarded biennially to Ohio poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers. Writers who have been residents of Ohio for one year prior to the application deadline and are not...

Established Professional Fellowships of $6,000 each and Emerging Artist Fellowships of $3,000 each are given annually to Delaware poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers. Writers who have...

Up to five awards of $6,000 each and up to five Promise Awards of $2,000 each are given twice yearly to poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers with children. Writers with at least one...